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Colbert To Speak At Northwestern Commencement

EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS/WBBM) -- A familiar face will be returning to his alma mater as commencement speaker this year.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports, Northwestern University announced that satirist Stephen Colbert will address the June 17 ceremony on the Evanston campus.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Lisa Fielding reports

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It was at Northwestern in the 1980s that Colbert switched from plans to study serious acting, and instead joined an improv team.

He met Second City director Del Close at Northwestern, and after graduation, he joined the Old Town-based improv comedy troupe. He later wrote and appeared on "The Dana Carvey Show" and helped create the program "Strangers with Candy" with Amy Sedaris, before appearing as a correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and finally launching "The Colbert Report."

Colbert recently told Northwestern Magazine that he switched from serious theatre after he realized that failing onstage in comedy could be funny and healthy.

In the past, the Daily Northwestern points out, Colbert made a joke about Jesus walking on water and used the "F" word at a Knox College commencement in 2006, and told the Princeton class of 2008 that they shouldn't worry about global warming because "this planet can get very chilly, especially if you get seated by the door in a restaurant."

But many Northwestern seniors are thrilled with the choice, the Daily Northwestern reported.

There is no word yet on what advice he will give to the new graduates.

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